Improvement in stocking driers and stretchers



P. W. WHITOOMB. Stocking Drier and Stretcher.

No. 202,498. 4 Patented April 16, I878.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

PERRY W. WHITOOMB, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

, IMPROVEMENT IN STOCKING DRIERS AND STRETCHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 202,498, dated April16, 187B application filed July 13,1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERRY W. WHIT-. 00MB, of the city of Washington,District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement inStocking Driers and Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following tobe an exact description thereof, referencebcing had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a partof this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation ofthe cylindrical wicker-frame and its central supports, forming askeleton-leg, over which a stocking is intended to be drawn, washed,stretched, dried, or darned. Fig. 2 is the upper support or disk, withapertures through which the wicker, rattan, or any other suitablematerial is passed, and which supports the frame, while the aperturesallow the air or artificial heat to pass through so as to hasten thedrying of the stocking. Fig. 3 is a second support, slightly oval inshape, to stretch the stocking to the shape of the calf of the leg. Ithas also apertures, through which the air may pass. Fig. 4 is a third orheel support, oval in shape, rounder in front, so as to suit the shapeof the heel of the stocking. It has also drying-apertures. Fig. 5 is thesupport for the shape of the toe of a stocking, slightly oval in shape,and has also airapertures.

The nature of my invention consists in a frame of wicker or latticework, cylindrical in form, made of one or more pieces of a shape similarto a leg, which may be perforated, if desired, as shown in the drawingat letters N O P Q R S, having central supports or disks with aperturesfor aiding and hastening the drying of a stocking when washed.

The object of my invention is to furnish a means by which stockings maybe reduced from a double fold to a single surface, thereby hastening thedrying of the same; also to stretch it, as well as to furnish aconvenient darning-last.

In the drawing, A is the toe; B, the heel. O is the top, and D thebottom; E, the right side, and F the left; G, the front of the leg, andH the back of the leg. J, K, L, and M are the several supports, whichmay be made divisible by tongue and groove, or other suitable means, tostrengthen the wicker frame or change its size for drying purposes.

The length of the wicker rods can be varied by means of sockets, intowhich two pieces of the wicker rods or arms are made to slide or enterso as to be adjusted to any required length, while the apertures in thedisks or round supports permit the air or artificial heat to passthrough and dry the stocking.

To construct my invention, I bend the first piece of material or rattannear the middle to form the toe at A, continue it to form the footsimilar in shape to that of a stocking, then extend both arms H and G ofthe pieceto form the front G and back H of the leg. For the nextimportant part of the frame I bend another piece at right angles withthe first, continue it along the sides E and F of the foot to near thefront of the partially-formed skeleton of the leg, and then connect theparts.

The mode of using the drier is to place it heel up, with the legpartially under one arm, and the heel of a stocking also up; then, withone or both hands, slip the open part or top of the stocking over thetoe up the foot till the heel comes to the toe, assist the heel over thetoe of the drier, pass the stocking upward till the heel arrives at theheel of the drier, then smooth up the leg, and the operation iscompleted.

I am aware that a stocking-stretcher of wire has been made, and that oneof wood has been used, and such I do not claim, broadly; but

What I do claim as my invention is- A stocking drier and stretcherconsisting of a frame of wicker or lattice work, of wicker, rattan,wood, or any other suitable material, cylindrically formed similar tothe shape of a stocking, constructed of one or more pieces, perforatedas desired, composed of the pieces A B O D E F G H, in combination withtheir supports J, K, L, and M, substantially as herein described andspecified, so as to admit air throughout the whole stocking to be dried,as set forth.

1?. W. WHITCOMB. Witnesses:

I. FRANKLIN REIGART, CHAS. P. WEBSTER.

